Quality Improvement - Syllabus

**Course Information**

* Course Title: Quality Improvement in Medical Practice
* Course Code: MED-QI-101
* Credit Hours: 20 CME credits
* Prerequisites: None
* Instructor:
+ Name: Dr. Jane Smith
+ Credentials: M.D., FACP, QA Certification

**Course Description**

Quality Improvement (QI) is a crucial aspect of medical practice that enables healthcare providers to identify and address quality issues, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. This course is designed for physicians and other healthcare professionals who want to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to implement QI initiatives in their practices. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will learn about the principles of QI, how to design and implement effective quality improvement projects, and how to measure and evaluate their success.

This course is targeted at physicians who want to improve patient care, reduce medical errors, and enhance their practice's overall performance. The course material is relevant to medical practice because it provides a framework for identifying and addressing quality issues, which can lead to improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and enhanced reputation.

**Learning Objectives**

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define quality improvement and its importance in medical practice (Understand)
2. Identify and analyze the root causes of quality issues in their practice (Analyze)
3. Design and implement effective QI projects using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle (Apply)
4. Measure and evaluate the success of QI projects using data-driven approaches (Evaluate)
5. Develop a personal QI plan to improve patient care and reduce medical errors in their practice
6. Understand the role of leadership and teamwork in facilitating QI initiatives
7. Apply QI principles to address specific quality issues in their practice, such as patient safety, medication management, or disease prevention
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing QI programs and identify opportunities for improvement
9. Develop a plan to implement QI strategies in their practice, including identifying stakeholders, setting goals, and establishing metrics
10. Apply QI principles to improve patient engagement and empowerment in care decisions

**Course Content Outline**

Week 1: Introduction to Quality Improvement (Estimated hours: 2)

* Topic 1.1: Definition of quality improvement and its importance in medical practice
* Topic 1.2: History and evolution of QI in healthcare

Week 2-3: Understanding Quality Issues and Root Causes (Estimated hours: 4)

* Topic 2.1: Identifying and analyzing root causes of quality issues
* Topic 2.2: The role of healthcare teams in identifying and addressing quality issues

Week 4-5: Designing and Implementing QI Projects (Estimated hours: 6)

* Topic 3.1: Introduction to the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
* Topic 3.2: Designing effective QI projects using the PDSA cycle

Week 6-7: Measuring and Evaluating QI Success (Estimated hours: 4)

* Topic 4.1: Using data-driven approaches to measure QI success
* Topic 4.2: Evaluating the effectiveness of existing QI programs

Week 8-9: Applying QI Principles to Improve Patient Care (Estimated hours: 6)

* Topic 5.1: Applying QI principles to improve patient safety
* Topic 5.2: Using QI principles to manage medications and reduce adverse events

Week 10-11: Leadership and Teamwork in Facilitating QI Initiatives (Estimated hours: 4)

* Topic 6.1: The role of leadership in facilitating QI initiatives
* Topic 6.2: Building high-performing teams for QI initiatives

Week 12: Personalizing QI Plans and Implementing Strategies (Estimated hours: 2)

* Topic 7.1: Developing a personal QI plan to improve patient care
* Topic 7.2: Identifying stakeholders, setting goals, and establishing metrics for QI projects

**Required Readings & Resources**

* Textbooks:
+ "Quality Improvement in Healthcare" by the Joint Commission
+ "The Lean Hospital: Reimagining Healthcare in America" by Mary L. Seaman
* Journal articles:
+ "Journal of Quality Improvement in Medicine"
+ "American Journal of Public Health"
* Online resources:
+ The Joint Commission's website
+ Lean Enterprises' website
+ American Medical Association's (AMA) website on quality improvement

**Assessment & Grading**

* Exams: 40% (4 exams, each 20 CME credits)
* Assignments: 30% (5 assignments, each worth 6 CME credits)
* Participation: 20% (active participation in class discussions and activities)
* Grading scale:
+ A: 90-100%
+ B: 80-89%
+ C: 70-79%
+ D: 60-69%
+ F: below 60%

**Course Schedule**

Week 1: Introduction to Quality Improvement
* Monday, January 10: Lecture and discussion (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)
* Wednesday, January 12: Group activity and case study analysis (2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)

Weeks 2-3: Understanding Quality Issues and Root Causes
* Monday, January 17: Lecture and discussion (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)
* Tuesday, January 18: Group activity and presentation (2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)

...and so on.

**Course Policies**

* Attendance policy: Regular attendance is expected. More than two unexcused absences will negatively impact participation grades.
* Academic integrity: Plagiarism and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Penalties will include failure in the assignment or exam and possible withdrawal from the course.
* Late submission policy: Assignments are due on the scheduled date. Late submissions will incur a penalty of 10% per day.
* Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations will be made for participants with disabilities or other special needs.

Please note that this is just a sample syllabus, and you should adjust it according to your specific course needs and requirements.